I Didn't Realizing I Was Rescuing My Entire Life

“If you look into their eyes, be prepared to take them home.” I’ve used that line a few times with prospective adopters, and, you know what? In the past 10 months I’ve been volunteering, two dogs I was handling were adopted and taken home by their new families that same day. To witness that has been the greatest joy I’ve had with Lucky Dog. And that doesn’t count several others I handled at adoption events that I’m sure went to their new homes a few days later.

I have a confession to make. I’m currently the proud owner of a 36-pound goldendoodle designer dog named Tulip. My awareness of “rescue dogs” or the thought of volunteering for an organization such as Lucky Dog was pretty low prior to 10 months ago, despite the fact that, upon reflection, I’ve been rescuing dogs my entire life. It all started in 1961 at the tender age of 6. My sister and I came across a cardboard box in the back of a hardware store in Los Gatos, California. In that box was a little black-and-brown puppy. I never would have thought we could take Molly home, but my sister - the older and wiser one - convinced me that if I, rather than her, presented Molly to mom, she’d consent to letting us keep her. It worked. Molly, who could have easily won an ugliest-dog contest, ended up being my best bud through most of my childhood

Next came Blackie, then Brutus, then Amy and her daughter Honolulu Lulu, and finally Goldie, a wonderful golden retriever who had been abandoned during a catastrophic flood in California’s Central Valley during which families were forced from their homes. Many left their pets behind. Through all those years, it never dawned on me that I was “rescuing” these dogs. The time and place were just right to bring a loving pooch into our home.

After moving to the DMV, Tulip and I were visiting an Alexandria dog park when she made fast friends with a pit mix. The pittie’s person explained the dog wasn’t hers; she was just taking it on a Dog’s Day Out from the nearby PetSmart and was thrilled that it connected well with Tulip. She also explained that she volunteered with an animal rescue and they are always looking for volunteers. Well, the time was right for me to start volunteering my time. As soon as I got home, I started researching Lucky Dog and by the following weekend, I was driving and handling my first Lucky Dog. I’ve been hooked on this wonderful organization ever since and I’m not looking back. And, I’m proud to say that our band will be performing at Lucky Dog’s Wags & Wine Extravaganza on March 21st. I hope to see you there!